Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel has come out in favour of further significant interest rate steps. Speaking at a joint press conference with Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner ahead of the Annual Meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dr Nagel said that the latest inflation data argue in favour of the Eurosystem taking a further “robust” interest rate step at its next monetary policy meeting.

Households’ financial assets fell by €98 billion in the second quarter of 2022 and thus for the second time in succession. At the end of the quarter they stood at €7,496 billion.

As in 2023, the monetary policy measures of the past few years shaped the Bundesbank’s annual accounts in the 2024 financial year. It recorded an accumulated loss of €19.2 billion for the reporting year, Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel and First Deputy Governor Sabine Mauderer said at the press conference presenting the Bank’s annual accounts. The Bundesbank has a sound balance sheet, Mr Nagel stressed, explaining that the value of its revaluation reserves was many times greater than the current and prospective accumulated losses.

Germany’s current account recorded a surplus of only €0.6 billion in August 2022, down €4.8 billion on the previous month’s level. This was due to a decrease in the goods account surplus. The deficit on invisible current transactions, which comprise services as well as primary and secondary income, changed only slightly.

The G7 finance ministers and central bank governors have adopted fundamental elements for third party risk management and for penetration testing to further promote cybersecurity in the financial sector.

Speaking ahead of the Annual Meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Bundesbank Vice-President Claudia Buch said that developments in the global economy had reached a turning point. “Cyclical risks and high inflation are weighing on markets, while geopolitical developments and combating climate change require structural adjustments,” Ms Buch explained. The IMF governors of all member states will gather for the Annual Meeting of the IMF and the World Bank, which is to take place in Washington DC in mid-October.

Die Europäische Zentralbank (EZB) und die People's Bank of China (PBC) haben beschlossen, ihre bilaterale EUR/CNY-Währungsswap-Vereinbarung um weitere drei Jahre bis zum 8. Oktober 2025 zu verlängern. Die Bedingungen der Vereinbarung bleiben im Wesentlichen unverändert.